Harvester-elevator



' (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1.

A STARK. HARVESTBR ELEVATOR.

No. 521,484 Patented June 19, 1894. I

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(No Modpl.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. STARK. HARVESTER ELEVATOR.

No. 521,484. Patented June 19, 1894.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

ANDREW STARK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

HARVESTER-ELEVATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 521,484, dated June 19, 1894.

' Application filed March 24,1893. Serial in. 467,505. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, ANDREW STARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 1n Harvester-Elevators, which are fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

In the drawings,-Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved elevator, showing adjacent parts of the harvester frame, drive-wheel and binder deck. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same. (In the first figure the elevator is shown empty; in the second, it is shown crowded with grain, and in both figures, the sheathing is partly broken away to, show more clearly the course of the elevator endless aprons.) Fig. 3 is a plan of the same, the elevator being shown empty.

Arepresents a rear frame bar or sill of the harvester, and B, a front sill of the same.

0 is an angle-iron bar of the harvester frame at the rear, extending up from the sill, and thence bent horizontally stubbleward at the proper level to afford support for the seatsupporting bar M. This frame-bar C will be recognized as in customary position and of customary form.

D is a post at theforward side, which is also in a customary position, extending up from the front silland affording means of support for the elevator side-bars of both aprons.

E E are respectively the front and rear side-bars of the lower elevator apron; F and F, respectively, the front and rear side-bars of the upper elevator apron, the'latterbeing provided with a sheath or guard-plate N which however does not close nor in any way limit the grain space of the elevatorat the rear, but only guards the edge of the apron, differing in this respect from the sheath N at the forward side hereinafter mentioned. 7 The forward side-bars E and F of the elevator carriers obtain supports on the front sill A and the posts D and D in a customary manner. The rear side-bar E of the lower carrier obtains the lower support upon the rear sill B,

carrier, I locate the bar K above the elevator,

extending from the upper end of the post D, at the forward side of the elevator, obliquely down rearward and grainward to the bracket or lip K, which is secured on the horizontal portion of the frame-bar O, and constitutes the means of securing the rear end of the seat-supporting bar M. At the point where the bar K crosses above the rear side-bar F of the upper elevator carrier, a bracket K is secured to said bar K, and provided with a downwardly extending lug K which afiords fastening for the side-bar F at a distance about half way from the lower end of said bar to the highest point thereof. The lower end of the side-bar F, I secure by a bracket M bolted fast to the seat-supporting bar -M at the point where said bar crosses above the side-bar F, and extending down to the latter bar and bolted thereto, as shown most clearly in the plan view, Fig. 3. These two supports for this side-bar F are sufficient to fix it rigidly; and from the upper support, the bracket K ,-it extends up and grainward without other support,but overhanging the lower elevator, and, at the discharge side, as hereinafter more particularly explained, overhanging the binder deck'and the drivewheel. This construction produces an elevator which is upwardly open at the rear part. The elevator is sheathed at the forward side in the usual manner by a metal sheet or plate N. At the rear a corresponding plate N, secured to the rear side of the sidebar E of the lower elevator, between the same and the frame-bar 0, extends up a little farther than said side-bar E, but is cut away at the upper part so that it leaves the elevator open rearwardly without limit at the upper or stubbleward half. From the construction described, the upper elevator being much narrower than the lower, extending over only about two-thirds of the width of the latter, the elevator is upwardly open at the rear one-third of its width throughout its entire length. The purpose of this construction is to adapt the elevator to accommodate long grain without folding the grain at the heads in such a manner as to mangle it and break it; and thereby to render the capacity of the elevator greater and prevent it from being clogged. Ordinary or short grain will be accommodated even within the width of the upper apron, and grain above the average length, except the very longest, will be accommodated within the width of the lower apron. Very exceptionally long grain will have the heads folded upward against the rear sheath N, and will protrude at the upwardly open rear part until they pass beyond the sheath, and thereafter, at the upper stubhleward portion of the elevator, the heads may protrude freely rearward beyond the sheath, the grain straightening out when it has opportunity.

My improved elevator presents another pcculiarity which I will now describe: The upper roller h of the upper elevator carrier H is located stubbleward from the vertical plane of the delivery side of the grain supporting element of the elevator, to wit, the upper roller g ot the lower carrier G, and it may be, as shown in the drawings, directly above the drive-wheel O,and overhanging the grainward side of the binder deck P; and it is in such direction from the lower roller h of the upper carrier II, that the lower or grain-actuating ply of said carrier 11, when stretched between the rollers, extends almost tangent to the lower carrier at the delivery side of the latter; that is to say, specifically in the structure shown,-tangent to the said lower apron G, at the point where the latter passes over its upper roller g. This makes the throat of the elevator, or pointwhere the grain emerges from it passing over the upper side of the lower carrier, very much constricted, so that a very thin flow of grain will be properly engaged and actuated and delivered out of the elevator on to the binder deck.

To permit the elevator to adapt itself to any quantity of grain which can enter its receiving mouth, formed between the lower rollers g and h of the two carriers, a third roller h2 is provided for the upper carrier, said roller being at about the level of the roller h, but grainward from the latter, and it may be grainward of the vertical plane of the roller g, as shown. The space which is thus left between the roller 7L2 and the lower ply of the upper carrier II, when the latter is stretched directly between the extreme rollers, is thus made equal to or even greater than the width of the receiving mouth of the elevator, and if the lower ply of the upper carrier II can yield away from the roller g under the pressure of the grain which is between the carriers sufficiently to open the throat to the full extent for which space is provided between the rollers g and IL2, the capacity of the elevator at the throat will be that which is desired, and will prevent choking.

In a former application, Serial No. 451,971, filed November 14, 1892, I have shown approximately the arrangement of the elevator rollers and carriers which I have above described, but in that application no provision was made for the yielding of the upper elevator apron awayfrom the lower and toward the intermediate roller ot the upper apron, except the capacity of the apron itself to yield by stretching. This sometimes puts too great strain on the bearings of the rollers and increases the waste of power by friction; and I have, in the construction herein shown, provided a further means for permitting the canvas to yield to the position indicated to open the threat at the discharge side. This means consists of combining with the rollers of the upper apron, arranged as described, yielding bearings for one of them,-prel'erably the extreme or stubbleward roller h, such bearings being held away from the other roller by springs, which permit the roller to be drawn toward the other under the stress of the grain which crowds the elevator, forcing the lower ply of the carrier ll upward toward the roller 71?. For the purpose of such yielding bearings, the brackets L L are provided and secured to the upper or horizontally extending portions F F respectively, of the elevator side-bars F and F, and their sheath or guard-plates, by suitable bolts and rivets at the points Z Z Z. The immediate bearings for the shaft of the roller h are obtained in the journal boxes L L, which protrudes through the horizontally elongated openings Z, in the brackets L, the elongation of said openings being suliicient to provide for all the movement of the roller h which will be necessary to permit the carrier II to yield to the utmost degree necessary. These journal boxes L have stems L which protrude into the stubbleward ends of the side-bars F F, holes being bored in the ends for that purpose deep enough to permit the stems to enter and reciprotate therein to the full extent of the play of the bearings L in the openings Z. The side-bars F F are turned down for a short distance at their stubbleward ends, giving them cylindrical terminals f", in which the described sockets for the spindles L are formed, and at the base of which are left standing the shoulders f. I

It R are coiled springs which encircle the projections f and the spindles L being stopped upon the shoulders f 11 at the one end, and at the base of the stems upon the journal boxes L at the other end. Preferably, the stems at their bases are enlarged conically, as seen at Z to center the springs at that end. These springs are of suflicient tension to normally hold the journal boxes L to the stubbleward limit of their play in the brackets L, and to permit them to yield, carrying the roller h grainward only upon such stress of the apron as will be produced by the accumulation of the grain in the elevator to a degree which makes necessary the opening of the throat to prevent choking. It will be noticed that the extreme roller h of the upper elevator carrier overhangs the binder deck P, which extends up over the drive-wheel as near as possible to the delivery side of the lower elevator carrier G. By this construction and arrangement of the parts, the entire elevator is kept within very narrow limits as to its extent above the drive-wheel without the necessity for any deck intervening between the elevator on the one side of the wheel and the binder deck on the other side, the two substantially meeting above the drive-wheel, while the upper elevator carrier causes the grain, when its quantity is sufficient to force the carrier H up to open the throat, to be delivered with a horizontal movement oif from the lower carrier and dropped on to the deck. There is some advantage also in terminating the binder deck at the receiving side a little lower than the delivery of the lower carrier G, as shown, but this is not essential. In any case, the grain supporting surfaces, comprising the lower element of the elevator, whether it be a carrier or not, and the binder deck, virtually meet at an apex above the drive-wheel, and the lower or grain actuating ply of the upper element of the elevator, which is necessarily a carrier,normally extend close to that apex, and is adapted to yield away from it under stress of the quantity of gram.

As illustrated, the receiving edge of the binder deck P consists of a folded metal bar P, which is connected at front and rear ends to the extended lugs G G of the brackets G G, which are secured to the side-bars E and E, outside of the sheathing to afiord reliable journal bearings for the upper roller 9 of the lower apron. The channel formed in the stubbleward side of this bar P receives the edge of the deck P, which slides therein as the binder is adjusted fore-and-aft as is customary. The brackets L L are extended stubbleward a little beyond the ends of the side-bars F F, and are connected by the rod grain-supporting element at its apex; a third guide for the upper ply of said endless carrier deflecting said upper ply; the delivery side guide roller for said upper carrier having its bearings adapted to yield under the strain of the endless carrier to afford slack to the latter when the elevator iscrowded with grain: substantially as set forth.

2. In a harvester elevator, in combination with the lower or grain-supporting element of the elevator, an overhanging endless carrier and its guide rollers, said carrier having its lower ply extending normally in a line close to the upper or delivery side of the grain-supporting element, a third guide for the upper ply of said endless carrier located abovea direct line between the extreme guide rollers of the same and deflecting said upper ply; bearings for the extreme stubbleward guide roller of said upper carrier adapted to yield under the strain of the carrier to afford slack to the latter as the quality of grain being elevated may require; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

.3. In a harvester elevator, in combination with the elevator having an upright post near the forward stubbleward corner; a brace or tie-bar extending from such post above the elevator downward, rearward and grainward, and secured independently of the lower elevator frame to the main frame of the machine at the rear of the rear grainward corner of the elevator: substantially as set forth.

4. In combination with the lower or grainsupporting element of the elevator, an overhanging endless carrier having its rear rollersupporting bar suspended, a bar located above the elevator and extending obliquely downward and grainward from front to rear and supported at its extremities beyond the elevator, the seat-supporting bar overhanging the grains path at the entrance of the elevator, and suitably supported at front and rear of said path; rigid connections from the seat-. plank and from said oblique bar'to the rear roller-supporting bar of the overhanging carrier, whereby the latter is suspended and the elevator made rearwardly open substantially as set forth.

5. In a harvester-elevator an overhanging endless carrier comprising three guide rollers in combination with the side-bars of such carrier, the brackets L bolted thereto and having the slots Z the sleeves L which afford bearings for the extreme roller having the stem L, the ends of the side-bars having sockets to receive said stem, and terminated cylindrically 'by the said sockets, and the springs L coiled about said cylindrical ter- L L secured to the side-bars outside of the St. Louis Park, county of IIenuepm, and sheath-plates and riveted to the latter be- State of Minnesota, this 16th day of March, IO yond the ends of the side-bars; and the yield- 1893,

ing bearing for the extreme guide roller REW STARK. 5 lodged and adapted to reciprocate in said AND brackets: substantially as set'forth. \Vitnesses:

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set H. W. WEEDEN,

my hand, in the presence of two Witnesses, at J. W. RICHMOND. 

